International SOS, the world's leading provider of medical and security assistance services, international healthcare, and outsourced customer care, offers travel alerts to members traveling overseas to warn them of security risks or medical problems they may encounter at their destinations or en route. The following is a sample of locations that may represent current security and medical risks for global travelers.
December 7, 2006 - Fiji- Military Takes Control of Police Armories
A council composed of military officials has been formed to govern Fiji, the country's caretaker prime minister confirmed today. The military council is headed by military chief, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who led a takeover of the government on December 5. The council will have more than a dozen members. Bainimarama has confirmed that a number of civil rights have been suspended due to reports of possible protest actions against the coup. Among these rights are the right to peaceful assembly and the right to privacy. Bainimarama also noted that the military reserves the right to enforce curfews.
There were no signs of unrest or any form of disturbance in Suva and Nadi, where the international airport, is located, overnight. Military troops continued to patrol the streets and conduct security checks in checkpoints. Government chief executives and civil servants reported for work. Shops have also reopened and traffic in Suva's main roads appears to be back to normal.
While protest actions against the coup are possible in the near-term, these are unlikely to loosen the military's tight grip on the Fiji government at this time. International SOS Members are advised that a state of emergency has reportedly been declared in Fiji. Foreigners should heed all extraordinary security measures imposed under this declaration. For more information on the situation in Fiji, please contact your nearest International SOS alarm center.
November 28, 2006 - South Korea- Bird Cull Expanded
South Korea will cull an additional 609,000 birds to prevent avian flu from spreading. Initially, only 155,000 birds were targeted for slaughter, but officials expanded the order to include all poultry within a 3-kilometer (1.9 mile) radius of two farms that recently reported outbreaks among their birds. So far, about 6.7 million eggs and 150,000 chickens have been destroyed, along with some 400 pigs and four dogs. The agriculture ministry will also set up more checkpoints to control vehicle movement, as the disease seems to have spread between two farms via contaminated vehicles.
Avian influenza A/H5N1 has caused outbreaks in poultry in an increasing number of countries. At least 22 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa have reported their first cases among birds since the beginning of 2006. For further information, see the International SOS Pandemic Preparedness Website. There, you can access the latest news, detailed information on flu-affected countries and pandemic preparedness planning information.
Medical and Security Alerts
International SOS alerts are compiled through numerous resources including physicians and security experts on the ground in 48 countries, and individuals coordinating information from a broad range of resources, including the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and the US State Department.
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